Moving From Apathy to Effectiveness – Part IV

In this last section I had originally intended to give a brief overview on prepping. However, on pondering that, I decided to change course a little. For one, I’m far from an expert on the matter, and for two, there is already a vast number of blogs, books and websites on the subject. I wouldn’t be adding much to the conversation by covering readily available material. So, what I’d like to discuss instead is my opinion on why we should prep, and how we should go about it.

The first reason for prepping is obvious: disaster will strike. The only questions are when it will strike, where it will strike, and what form it will take. Preparing physically and mentally to survive any disaster, be it a natural disaster like a hurricane or earthquake, an economic collapse, or even an attack from a foreign government or terrorist organization, is always of wise and of value. If I had to choose the single most important piece of prepping gear though, I think my answer might be surprising. It wouldn’t be solar panels, or the 4-gun battery, or a years worth of food, or anything similar. No, I firmly believe that by far the most valuable prepping supply you can have involves the gray stuff between your ears. This really became obvious to me when I watched this video of a gentleman that fabricates his own kiln-fired-tile-roof wood-heated hut with his bare hands, and only the natural materials he found in the forest. Nothing can substitute for knowledge. So yes, as crazy as this sounds, I’m suggesting that watching YouTube videos can indeed be a valuable prepping activity. Of course, that’s not to say we should abandon all physical prepping, but without the knowledge of how to use and adapt our resources, we may be giving ourselves a false sense of security. I mean, what’s the use in having a HAM radio or a firearm without the knowledge of how to use it? Patriots should have an insatiable appetite for knowledge, and knowledge of things regarding survival, defense, and prepping, should be high on the list.

“What’s between your ears matters more than all the gear in the world”

There’s another very good reason to very intentionally collect knowledge in this area: You can give it away for free over and over without having to spend a penny to do it. Why, you might ask, would we want to give that knowledge away to those that may not even have an interest in it? There are a number of reasons. First, it gives you an easy opportunity to get people to start rethinking their normalcy bias and they may develop an interest in the cause of Liberty. I say it’s an easy opportunity because you can frame it in terms they’re familiar with. For instance, if you’re on the West Coast, you can frame it around “The Big One” (earthquake), in hurricane country, hurricanes, etc. We don’t need to lead with “when the government collapses and the civil war starts” to get people to start listening to information about preparing for disaster. In fact, for most that approach might result in them simply turning you off. Getting people to rethink their normalcy bias is often the first step that takes them on the journey from simply curious to full-blown Patriot. I think we can all agree we want more of the latter.

The other reason is that when disaster DOES strike, people always look to the individuals with a plan as the natural leaders. If you’ve already developed those relationships with your friends, family, and community, and you’ve already displayed a willingness to help them and share your knowledge, they will look to you. Further, people with even a knowledge of surviving in various circumstances are less likely to panic, which is probably one of the most dangerous effects of any disaster. If disaster doesn’t strike, you’ve still fostered those relationships, and established yourself as someone who is trustworthy and willing to help others, which gives you influence. That influence can be used to further the cause of liberty. As the saying goes, “people don’t care what you know till they know that you care.” Show people you care by by helping them educate themselves to prepare. You never know where it could lead.

The point I want to drive home is that prepping doesn’t have to be all defined as buying new gear. Don’t despair if, like most of us, you can’t go out and buy the latest and greatest gear and 10 years worth of food supply; you CAN go learn something. Don’t allow apathy to dictate your future. Keep learning, sharing, and teaching others. Start those conversations. Invest in those relationships. Do SOMETHING. You never know, that neighbor you barely know today might be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you next time you put a rifle on your back and stare tyranny in the eye till it blinks. Prepare. Educate. Empower. Resist. Take action for the cause of liberty, whatever you do. Generations to come will thank you for it.